Cindi's Stuffed Manicotti

Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 5 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 7
• 1 (8 ounce) package italian style manicotti (shells)
• 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef (sirloin or ground round)
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3 slices bread, torn into small pieces
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• kraft grated parmesan cheese
• 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dried instant minced onion
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 2 minced garlic cloves

Recipe

• 1 cook manicotti shells according to package directions; do not drain. run cold water over cooked manicotti, until water in pan is cold; then drain.
• 2 meanwhile in a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, shredded mozzarella, bread, milk, and black pepper.
• 3 divide mixture to fill each shell.
• 4 place in a greased 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
• 5 or you can place in 2-(8x8-inch) square baking pans.
• 6 combine the tangy tomato sauce ingredients in a saucepan, and simmer for 15 minutes before pouring sauce over the shells in pan. please read *note below!
• 7 cover with aluminum foil, and bake in a 350 degree oven for 50 minutes.
• 8 sprinkle desired amount of grated parmesan cheese over the manicotti before serving.
• 9 note: prepare a batch and a half of the sauce. i always do! also, "do not cook the ground beef first" and "no, it does get greasy"!
• 10 (prep time can range anywhere from 45-55 minutes).